Saul Simpson
Founder and Forest school Leader
Hailing from Manchester, England Saul has worked across the North West of England specialising in outdoor learning and sport. Working with children and young adults with and without special educational needs. He qualified as a Level 3 OCN Forest Leader having spent time travelling North America, working closely with National Park rangers in south and central Canada. He completed his level 3 through the renowned ‘Earthcraft UK’. Since arriving in Poland he has worked closely with bilingual children, set up and run a Forest School and delivered various trainings across the board.
info@pinesforestschool.pl
Julia Czajkowska
Pines Admin
An outdoors enthusiast and keen sailer. Julia was born in Warsaw, spending her early years living in Piemonte before returning to Warsaw at the age of six. She completed her degrees in international relations and humanitarian aid in 2015 and has since worked with various charities and foundations in Warsaw. Since joining the Pines team Julia has supported sessions, projects and workshops as well as helping grow Pines online presence.
Julia loves to cook and will be regularly prepare Italian favourites directly from the fire.
office@pinesforestschool.pl
Marek Suchodolski - Lasokracja
Bushcraft and Forest Education expert
A devoted father and Forester, Marek was born in Warsaw and has since travelled all over the country to study and work. He is recognised around Poland for his unique understanding and connection with the great outdoors.
His knowledge and understanding of the Forest, bushcraft and all things wild make him the perfect addition to our teaching team. From birds to the structure of a Birch, Marek knows all there is to know about the great outdoors.
marek@pinesforestschool.pl
Dave Blakemore
Pines Primary teacher
Dave was born and raised in the North of England, UK. He has worked in education for the best part of 20 years, initially in U.K. primary schools. Dave has taught internationally in New Zealand and also in China, where he spent 5 years enjoying the benefits of teaching, learning, and leadership in a small-scale learning environment. In 2020, he moved to Poland with his wife and two children. After working for 3 years in a British school, he had the good fortune to discover Pines Primary and join the team. Dave sees learning as an organic process, inseparable from life itself. He feels greatly inspired when working as part of a living, breathing learning environment, in which he can serve as a responsive guide and facilitator. In his free time, Dave likes to create music using a variety of electronic and acoustic instruments. He also keeps up regular Mandarin Chinese practice and is an avid reader.
Piotr Paruszkiewicz
Pines Primary teacher
Teacher and educator, graduate of the School of Human Rights of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Bachelor of sociology with a re-socialisation profile. Completed postgraduate studies in pre-school and early childhood pedagogy with elements of pedagogical therapy and pedagogical preparation. First degree tutor, certified implementer of the "Spójrz Inaczej" educational and preventive programme, completed CLIL (Content & Language Integrated Learning) training accredited by the British Council, certified trainer of SZTAMA anti-violence Trainers.
He believes that communication and, above all, openness and attention to the other person are the key to better relations between people and – consequently - better functioning in a dynamically changing reality.
Steve Roberts
Forest School Leader
Father of two energetic children, Steve has worked all around the world as an ESL teacher, most recently in Italy, Poland and South Africa. He then trained as a level 3 OCN Forest School leader. He has also spent time in the British Army. Before joining the Pines team he has worked at a nature based kindergarten and as a freelance Forest School leader in Warsaw. He has also contributed to an EU funded project training future Forest School leaders in Poland.
Ania Jabłońska
Pines Primary Polish Teacher
Ania is a general and special educator by profession, as well as a psychological and pedagogical therapist. In the Pines team, she is an educator implementing the Polish core curriculum and a therapist for children with developmental difficulties. She loves to introduce new and innovative teaching methods in her work with children in order to stimulate children's curiosity about the world, creativity and stimulate their self-development. She strongly agrees with the saying that "Every child is different, but every child is equally important," so she applies the principle of individual approach when working with students. She has a passion for traveling, which she enjoys indulging in every spare moment.
Our growing community
From Manchester to the Great Lakes of Canada. The Black Forests of Germany to the snowy mountains of Poland. The Polish sea side to the gardens of the UK. From the busy centre of Warsaw to our quiet sites in Zabia Wola (Pines Learning HUBs) and Powsin. Our community continues to thrive and grow, and with that growth our Forest School develops and enhances. Our community of Forest leaders, Park rangers, parents, enthusiast, specialists, acclaimed practitioners and of course our pupils make up the backbone of Pines. Our community is everything.
We want everyone that is associated with Pines to feel welcome at the Pines Learning HUBs and at our site in Powsin Forest, enjoy a coffee and talk through ideas. Our expat community is fantastic at doing exactly that, making friends, networking and supporting one another. Our parental workshops offer an insight to what your children will be learning, and how you can best support their development.
At Pines we love to further our own education to ensure each Pines child receives the very best. Workshops, trainings and courses delivered by Pines practitioners as well as experts from around the globe will teach you everything you need to know, ready for our wild camps, weekend hikes and family days.
Pines Foundation
Our foundation works tirelessly to support young adults and children with disabilities around Warsaw.
LAB - Learning and being
Our wonderful partner preschool. LAB is a Montessori school located in a beautiful old villa in Mokotów. LAB is a place where each child is able to learn using their own unique style. An inspiring space, where children can peacefully learn and feel free to be themselves.
Laplander
Polands number 1 bushcraft and survival shop. Laplander not only supplies our Forest School leaders and learners with professional equipment but also supports our Projects and Foundation. We are proud to partner with such a prestigious brand, with support from Laplander, Pines will continue to deliver Educational Projects right across Poland.
Powsin Park
The Culture Park in Powsin together with the Kabacki Forest has for years been the perfect location for family weekend trips and everyday rest. Located on the upper terrace of the Warsaw, Powsin had been the home to Pines Forest School from the very beginning. We are proud of our partnership with Powsin and look forward to the many year of cooperation.
Łukasz Tulej
An outdoors, bushcraft survival expert with an unbelievable knowledge on all things nature. Łukasz has traveled the world seeking out his next adventure, boasting an array of inspiring tales. As well as leading survival weekends and trails across some of the most beautiful landscapes the world has to offer, Łukasz also works with children and adults of all ages. His passion to help others and support development makes him a true inspirational figure in our community.
www.tooley.pl
Earthcraftuk Community Interest Company
Clair and Scott of Earthcraftuk are two of the UK`s leading Forest School trainers. Scott is an Advanced Bushcraft Instructor and both Clair & Scott Level 3 Forest School Practitioners and Trainers. They have trained over 370 Forest School Leaders from the UK and overseas (including Saul Simpson – co-founder of Pines). They understand how to run Forest School programmes, offer transformational benefits to participants. Pines is delighted to continue their relationship with Earthcraftuk who will be our official training base for new Pines Forest School staff.
www.earthcraftuk.com
Nature workshops - Lasokracja
The talented and skilled Forest and Bushcraft specialist Marek Suchodolski provides expert training in all things wild and green. A member of the Pines community, Marek will guide you through courses in identification, flora and fauna and many more. His work as a national park ranger in Poland gives him the perfect experience to pass on his expertise. Pines is lucky enough to have him as an expert consultant and looks forward to working with him in the future.
